Management of Aggressive and Frightened Parrots

INTRODUCTION

In practice, problem behaviors are commonly encountered with many companion birds. Incomplete, forceful or intrusive recommendations that may be made when these problems are discussed can result in merely a short term success but longer term failure. Specific problems may be augmented, generalized, or allowed to become even more chronic. As such, it is important for veterinarians to be capable of making initial recommendations that are medically and scientifically sound, practical and minimally intrusive to at least encourage the stewards of these animals onto the right track for intervention. Often, initial strategies that are designed to alter the environment and associated stimuli with the targeted behavior, combined with strategic enrichment of alternative behaviors will result in improved welfare of the birds, and may bring the additional benefit of reduction or elimination of the problem behaviors themselves. […]